Syndicate

NEW ORLEANS (Friday, March 30, 2012) – An even dozen equine invaders from California and Florida scheduled to be part of the 11-stakes gala programs offered Saturday and Sunday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots have all arrived safely in New Orleans in anticipation of the upcoming Louisiana Derby Weekend in the Crescent City.

The three horses from the West Coast came in together on an equine charter Wednesday, and nine more that have been based in South Florida all winter arrived early Thursday afternoon.

Heading those in from California was Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams’ Rousing Sermon, who has been installed as the third choice in the morning line for Sunday’s 99th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby. Cesar Orantes, an assistant to Rousing Sermon’s Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, accompanied the sophomore colt by Lucky Pulpit, who won Santa Anita’s $100,000 California Cup Juvenile and finished second by a head in Hollywood Park’s Grade I CashCall Futurity.

Also in from the West Coast for trainer Doug O’Neill was Mark Gorman, Neil Haymes and Sterling Stable’s Thirtyfirststreet, a contestant for Sunday’s Grade II New Orleans Handicap who won the $200,000 Lone Star Derby last year, as well as Kenney and Vielle Gardner’s Willywonker, who won Santa Anita’s Grade I Frank E. Kilroe at last asking and will be running in Sunday’s Grade II Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap over the local Stall-Wilson turf. Groom Saras Rivera with the O’Neill duo reported all was well Friday.

NINE ARRIVE THURSDAY AT FAIR GROUNDS FROM SOUTH FLORIDA – A Todd Pletcher-trained sextet, a Graham Motion-conditioned pair and last year’s Louisiana Derby winner – the Kelly Breen-trained Pants On Fire – were all reported in good order Friday morning by their connections after completing their journey from South Florida without incident.

Also among the Pletcher invaders was Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s Mission Impazible, who will be attempting to defend his championship from last season’s $400,000 New Orleans Handicap. Mission Impazible also won the Louisiana Derby two years ago.

Trainer Graham Motion, who saddled Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom to win last year’s Kentucky Derby, has sent two runners to Fair Grounds for Sunday’s races on Louisiana Derby Day. They are Augustin Stable’s Smart Bid, who will be attempting to defend his championship from last season’s Muniz Memorial ’Cap, as well as Dianne Cotter’s Toby’s Corner, winner of last year’s Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Motion assistants Lisa Conway, Jody Petty, and Porfino Fernandez all accompanied the Motion pair while that conditioner is in Dubai this weekend.

George and Lori Hall’s Pants On Fire, who will contest Sunday’s New Orleans Handicap after winning last season’s Louisiana Derby, was standing serenely in his stall Friday morning and is conditioned by last year’s Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Kelly Breen, who was on the grounds earlier Friday during training hours.

GRADED STAKES MONEY ON THE LINE – The $1 million purse for Sunday’s Kentucky Derby and the $500,000 purse for Saturday’s Fair Grounds Oaks will contribute significantly to the graded earnings that determine preference for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Both Fair Grounds races carry guaranteed purses with no added money. The purse breakdown for the Louisiana Derby: First (60%), $600,000; Second (20%), $200,000; Third (10%), $100,000; Fourth (4%), $40,000; Fifth (2%), $20,000; and Sixth through Ninth (1%), $10,000. Purse breakdown for the Fair Grounds Oaks: First (60%), $600,000; Second (20%), $200,000; Third (10%), $100,000; Fourth (4%), $40,000; Fifth (2%), $20,000; and Sixth (1%), $10,000.